"Mark…" Sarah's voice whimpered.
Her dear companion, Mark, lay with his head nestled in her lap. She was hunched over him, their foreheads only inches apart. She felt tears swell in eyes which soon fell as tiny droplets on her friend's cold, listless face. All of the stress that rattled her being was gone.
"Oh gods…" She choked back the tears, but it was in vain." Mark… Why did you have to do that?"
Her hands trembled. By gods, they would not stop trembling. With her best effort, she tucked her friend's head against her bosom and placed her two fingers on an artery below her friend's chin. She began to count. One. Two. She drew in her breath and sniffled. Three. Four. Her thoughts riddled her with memories of she and Mark laughing, playing, crying, fighting, and forgiving each other. Her once joyous dream of growing old together with Mark with little scattering about among them now pained her fracturing heart. Five. Six. Every memory just piled on the tears. She shook her in defiance.
"No!" She choked.
Fate would be nice to her again. One more time. Just one more. Please… Seven. Eight. No… No! No! No! This… this can't be… No. Please… no… Nine… Ten…
That was it. Mark was gone. Sarah couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Goddammit all!"She wailed, thrashing her legs and shaking her head. "Mark! Don't leave me! I don't- don't what to do without you…"
Her heart shattered to pieces. Every fragment pierced her, pierced her down to her very core. Everything bled to an accursed red. Her face contorted. She fought back no longer. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Mucus muddled her shirt. Her whole body shivered and rattled in agony.
The world around her turned to dusk. Her best friend stolen by death's cold grip. The one who she confided in her fears, her insecurities, some of her happiest moments and withheld her fits of anger; now only a husk remained.